General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, is facing a “squalid
and cowardly” campaign to smear him, according to Liam Fox, the
Conservative shadow defence secretary.

Sir Richard, who has been an outspoken critic of Labour’s support for the Armed Forces in his role of Chief of the General Staff. He will step down from his post and retire from the Army next week.

Some Labour insiders are concerned that in retirement, Sir Richard will become even more vocal in his criticism of the Government’s record on defence.

The Daily Telegraph reported last month that some Labour MPs are preparing moves to tarnish the general’s reputation once he leaves office. One minister said at the time that Sir Richard would be “fair game” in retirement.

Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, responded to that report by issuing a formal warning to all ministers in his department not to brief against Sir Richard, who is planning to write a book about defence when he leaves office.

Despite Mr Ainsworth’s warning, Labour moves against the general are said to be continuing.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Labour MPs are planning to use the Freedom of Information Act to request the details of public money Sir Richard spent on entertaining at his official home in Kensington Palace.

Internet blogs later named Kevan Jones, a defence minister, as the person orchestrating the campaign against Sir Richard.

When he was a backbencher, Mr Jones publicly accused generals including Sir Richard of “living like Edwardian gentlemen” at taxpayers’ expense.

Mr Jones declined to comment directly on the suggestion he was attemping to smear Sir Richard.

The minister said: “It is obviously silly season in the blogosphere. General Dannatt and I have worked closely on a number of personnel issues. Like him, I deeply care about our servicemen and women. I will continue to work with him on this issue both in his current role and when he retires.”

Dr Fox said that any attempt to besmirch Sir Richard’s reputation reflected badly on Labour.

He said: “At a time when our soldiers are dying in Afghanistan, ministers spend their time in puerile personality politics. General Dannatt is a man of honour and integrity who leads from the front. His Labour detractors are squalid and cowardly, undermining from the shadows.”

General Lord Guthrie, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “This is ghastly spin, the sort of behaviour you expect from the gutter. Richard Dannatt is beyond reproach. This is beneath contempt.”

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “There is no smear campaign against Sir Richard within the MoD.”